Yaris gets the nod in Europe: The Toyota Yaris is the European Car of the Year for 2000, the choice of a panel of 56 automotive writers from 21 countries. The Yaris, essentially a hatchback version of the Toyota Echo, was designed in Europe primarily for the European market—in fact, beginning in 2001, it will be built in France. It is also available in Japan as the Vitz and has become Toyota's bestseller there, overtaking the Corolla. This is the first time Toyota has won the Car of the Year award, now in its 37th year. Finishing second: the Fiat Multipla.

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Top-down 3-series: The BMW 3-series convertible will go on sale in the U.S in March, initially as a 323Ci powered by the 170-hp, 2.5-liter in-line six-cylinder engine. Expect a larger six-cylinder to become available in the fall. Like those of Audi, Volvo, and Mercedes, the new BMW ragtop has rollover bars that pop up from the rear head restraints when the car's stability systems sense an emergency. BMW says its new roof design improves noise insulation, visibility, and luggage space. Even on the base model, the rear window is glass with a defroster element.

Handling by Lotus: Malaysian carmaker Proton, leveraging its ownership of Lotus, has introduced a Lotus-tweaked GTi in an attempt to brighten its image and make a direct connection with the Lotus sports car and engineering business. The Proton GTi, with a 133-hp, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, is based on its Persona "compact" model, which is, in turn a last-generation Mitsubishi Colt. Lotus has given it some aggressive styling touches reminiscent of the hot hatchbacks of the 1980s. Intentionally, wheel-arch extensions have an add-on appearance, and it has a deep front spoiler, a big rear wing, and two rectangular exhaust pipes. The car carries a "Handling by Lotus" badge, last seen when Isuzo still built and exported cars. Likely, we'll never see the GTi here.

Enzo does Disney? Rumors from Italy suggest Ferrari may create a theme park, the theme being fast cars and motorcycles. Ferrari execs are in talks with an American designer to create a Disneyland-style entertainment complex in Italy. The provisional title is AutoLand, and it would include shopping and convention facilities, as well as race-car simulators. This is a logical extension of Ferrari Idea, which intends to setup 40 stores in big cities around the world to sell Ferrari merchandise.

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Chevy pickup a memorial to slain Columbine teen: Prominent among, the TV images broadcast after the shootings at Colorado's Columbine High School last year was one featuring a rusty pickup filled with cards and flowers—tributes to its late owner, John Tomlin 16 who had big plans to restore his 1985 Chevrolet that he bought with money earned from a part-time job. Chevrolet executives learned of his love for the pickup and quietly volunteered to finish the restoration in Tomlin's memory. It was shipped to Detroit and turned over to Jon Moss, GM's legendary performance guru, who was featured in our cover story last month. Moss and his staff installed a 7.4-liter V-8. a new bed, monster off-road tires, a Ramsey winch, and new seats. The pickup was painted green and white, the colors of Tomlin's favorite football team, the Green Bay Packers. The truck was returned to Tomlin's family, amid many tears, as they said it was exactly what John Tomlin hoped the truck would someday be. As for Chevrolet, it issued no press releases, called no press conferences. Classy, we think.

Mile-long Mercedes: Remember the 60s Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman? This new Pullman limo stretches the already long wheel-base of the S600 by exactly one meter (39.37 inches). A massive three-piece driveshaft has been developed to handle the extra size and enormous 6173-pound weight. Mercedes-Benz has set up a special low-volume assembly line at its Sindelfingen plant and expects to build 100 Pullmans a year, as either S500s or S600s. Standard equipment includes a refrigerated bar, a TV, multimedia consoles with two monitors, a second air-conditioning unit for the rear seat, an electrically operated glass partition, an intercom to permit conversation with the driver, and fabric curtains that provide complete privacy for the rear compartment.